Vernon Thain Andrews, 92

Vernon Thain Andrews, 92

Vernon Thain Andrews, 92, died July 15, 2014 at a nursing facility in Tomball, Texas.

Vernon Thain Andrews, 92, died July 15, 2014 at a nursing facility in Tomball, Texas.

Vernon was born on October 17, 1921 on a farm near Clarksdale,Missouri. He was the son of Lewis W. and Ada (Ebersold) Andrews. He graduated from Union Star High School in 1939.

After enlisting in the Army during World War II, Vernon was trained as an infantryman and assigned to an anti-tank company within the 95th Infantry Division in 1942. After training in various spots all over the United States, the 95th Division was ordered overseas in August of 1944 to engage the German Army in Western Europe. On October 19th, the soldiers of the 95th Division, assigned under Lieutenant General George S. Patton’s III Corps, were tasked with securing a bridgehead over the Moselle River near the town of Metz. The “Iron Men of Metz" repulsed several German attacks over the next 32 days before pushing their way toward the Saar River, entering Germany just after Thanksgiving. Vernon also spent some time driving supplies at night from the rear areas to the forward lines as part of the Red Ball Express. His time in the European Theater of Operations earned him the Combat Infantryman Badge and a Bronze Star in addition to other medals.Vernon married Dorothy L. Gibson on September 25, 1943. Upon his return from war in 1945, Vernon and Dorothy began building their life together on a farm SW of Union Star near Helena. They were blessed with two children, William “Bill” (deceased) and Marcia. Vernon continued to farm until he fully retired at age 85. After the death of their son, Bill Andrews, they moved to Tomball, Texas to be near their daughter, Marcia Irwin, and her family.